This study will identify barriers to Pap smear screening facing Hispanic/Latino women within a Medicaid managed care system. The American Cancer Society (ACS) criteria for Pap smear screening will be used: testing with the onset of sexual activity and repeat pap smears every 1-3 years at the physician's discretion. Hispanic/Latina populations are the ethnic groups with the highest incidence of cervical cancer, and it is increasing. Cervical cancer rates in the San Joaquin Valley are 10.6 new cases and 3.3 deaths per 100,000 women, i.e., 10% and 50% higher, respectively, than the state as a whole. A major reason for these high rates is under-utilization of Pap smear screening. The result from this study will be used in the training of medical residents at the University of California San Francisco in Fresno and it will be shared and disseminated to other health care providers, which will enhance the ability of service providers to provide culturally competent training and services as well.
The participants will be recruited from 4 large community health centers (urban vs. rural) that serve predominately Hispanics in the Central Valley and the Blue Cross Managed MediCaid system. The study design involves structured interviews (covering the above aspects of care) with a random sample of 300 with 100 from each of three groups of women: 1) seen by a physician+Pap smear within 3 years, 2) seen by a physician+No Pap smear within 3 years, and 3) Not seen by a physician+No Pap smear within 3 years.
Learning Objectives: Identify the alterable barriers to Pap smear screening facing Hispanic/Latino women with a Medicaid managed care system; 2) measure the proportion of Latina women within a Medicaid managed care system who are screened for cervical cancer; and 3) design a comprehensive community-based outreach and health education intervention strategy to improve the cervical cancer screening rates among the Hispanic/Latina population.
Keywords: Access, Hispanic
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.